I am considering buying a 335D here in Germany through military car sales and bringing it back to the US later this year, but am concerned about the future resale value. The sales rep here tells me that the 335D's are selling well in the US, but she is clueless and the fact that BMW had to offer a $4,500 ECO credit disputes this.
I can buy a car here for the Mil Sales price of $38,180 with free shipping to the US, but buying in the US with the $4,500 off and any individual dealer incentives would come out about the same. Understand the ECO credit is set to expire 4 Jan 2010, but think BMW will do it for the 3rd time if sales stay slow. BMW clearly has some work to do in their diesel marketing.
I will buy the car because it is great all around car and drive it for many years, but don't want to over pay for it.
She also said the last 2010 orders are in March and then they are starting the 2011's with no real differences in options.

There's no real way to tell what resale value is going to be like over here right now. The eco credit was used as a stimulator to hopefully entice people with 'old diesel mentality' in to take a look at what diesels can do now.

Diesel sales have definitely picked up, but there's no way to tell how things are going to pan out once the eco credit is finally dropped.

I think BMW has done a pretty good job on diesel marketing, as we see new diesel owners pop up on the forums pretty frequently lately (myself included).

I am considering buying a 335D here in Germany through military car sales and bringing it back to the US later this year, but am concerned about the future resale value. The sales rep here tells me that the 335D's are selling well in the US, but she is clueless and the fact that BMW had to offer a $4,500 ECO credit disputes this.
I can buy a car here for the Mil Sales price of $38,180 with free shipping to the US, but buying in the US with the $4,500 off and any individual dealer incentives would come out about the same. Understand the ECO credit is set to expire 4 Jan 2010, but think BMW will do it for the 3rd time if sales stay slow. BMW clearly has some work to do in their diesel marketing.
I will buy the car because it is great all around car and drive it for many years, but don't want to over pay for it.
She also said the last 2010 orders are in March and then they are starting the 2011's with no real differences in options.

Possible future 335D owner

What discount are you being offered % wise? I am also stationed in Germany and British military personnel receive a 15% discount + tax free. Just because you are being offered a good deal doesnt mean that you shouldnt push for a better one.
With regards to resale value dont forget that the fact that 335d will sell less than 335i for example may make the car rarer on the second hand market and therefore increase its value - there are lots of variables but the 335d should prove to be a strong buy.

I bought mine through military sales in spain. I pretty much ordered mine and had them ship it to the states, without ever registering it in spain. I bring this up because I had to pay for tax. Maybe it has to do with the state or whatever.

But unless you register it overseas, it will be considered a new car, at least by CA dmv. So your first registration will require you to pay taxes on the car.

Mine was through pentagon car sales, it's suppose to be "free" shipping, but I paid a extra 2050$-2100$ for insurance/customs/delivery(pretty much) to have to go to the states.

Maybe it's because i took delivery of it in the states, but make sure you find out, otherwise you will get extra out of pocket expenses

I'm betting the residual value of 335d will be higher than the other 3er variants 4 years from now, given the certainty that over the long term future prices of petrol fuel are bound to creep up. Of course, that would only happen if reliability of these newer common-rail direct injection diesel is comparatively good ...

What discount are you being offered % wise? I am also stationed in Germany and British military personnel receive a 15% discount + tax free. Just because you are being offered a good deal doesnt mean that you shouldnt push for a better one.
With regards to resale value dont forget that the fact that 335d will sell less than 335i for example may make the car rarer on the second hand market and therefore increase its value - there are lots of variables but the 335d should prove to be a strong buy.

US Military price is roughly 13% off and tax free. Prices are very firm with the mil sales unless cars are moving very slow (Volvo XC90). With previous M3, Saab 93, Volvo 850R, and Saab 900 purchases could not even get the dealers to toss in weatherproof mats or anything small.

How available are the 335D's in the states? Are they in the dealers, or just coming as pre-sold?

It appears most 335d in the States are sold pre-ordered. Most dealerships don't keep even one on the lot for test drives and promotions, from my personal search experience and what I've read on this forum. And they're also a rare sight on the streets.